" Hello guys,"

A familiar hoarse voice distracted me from an ongoing conversation only to meet the eyes of the same black shirt guy who handed me the files this morning stood near the table where all of us were having lunch. A small smile graced his lips with recognition liting his eyes making Ina smile in recognition as well.

"Ah! Late as always" Ranvijay, a colleague of Riya stood and patted the man's back in a fake appraisal making the man smile sheepishly. All the others chuckled looking the banter between the friends before he continued," So guys, I know you all know who he is except our sweet lady."

All the eyes turned towards Ina making her smile bashfully whereas others shook their heads at Ranvijay's extremely sweet comment even when they fight like cats and dogs at other times.

" Umm... I have met him earlier in the day," Ina said meekly, feeling a pair of eyes scanning her intently from the time they had met hers.

" Waah! These people have already met. And here I was thinking about how to introduce Aryan to her. After all, my favourite person in this whole office." Ranvijay commented, with sarcasm dripping away from his voice making Ina roll her eyes upwards.

" Well Ranvijay, before these people run away. Let's keep your sweetness at bay as you know we all are quite young to get diabetes," Ina replied, battling her eyes that made the whole group guffaw whereas the man kept noticing her with amusement.

Ina's statement made Ranvijay shut his trap after which he completely behaved as if nothing of that sort ever happened and engaged in some new gossip that sandy started talking about. While listening to the group, Ina found her gaze clashing with Aryan's who just refused to take his eyes off making her feel slightly conscious.

A weird feeling erupted in her heart at the observation though his stare didn't seem creepy or gave off danger vibes too her. He just seemed to be observing her from the moment his eyes landed on her and recognition flashed through them which just made her wonder the reason of his curiosity.

Playing some hide and seek with eyes, finally, the lunch break ended putting a stop to the discretely not so discrete observation.

" Ah ha! Someone just couldn't take his eyes off you" Ina heard Riya saying no one to particular but she knew the statement was directed towards her. Shit! Why do friends have to be no less than a detective?

" Riya, before I hit you and make you shut your mouth. It will be better if you do that on your own. It will save you the trouble." Ina sweetly smiled and replied to Riya's indirect teasing zipping her up and making Ina smile inwardly.

Having said that, both the girls resorted to their works with Ina being extra attentive while dealing with the work allotted to her by that devil. Because somewhere in her mind, she knew that the man though told her that he would stay away but that thing just didn't gel well with her. It was just like an alcoholic promising not to drink alcohol. But strangely enough, Ina wasn't scared about this. In fact, if anything she was willing to face him and tackle him like a challenge.

****

A porcelain cup crashed on to the floor as the man just stared at the remaining shreds of the cup that was gifted to her by one of his flings.

The whole day passed with the pace of a snail after the confrontation that had happened between him and Ina.

After that whole argument, Viraaj's concentration made a final salute to him and disappeared leaving him helpless and frustrated. For the first time, a dedicated man like him was finding himself lacking a motivation to work.

His harsh words and her helpless threats were the only sounds that were running around in his mind leading him to break that cup in his anger.

He clutched his head in his hands and buried himself deep down in the velvety one-seater sofa thinking about a way out when a sudden ring of doorbell made him look in the direction of the door.

" Hey man," a familiar cheery voice of his best friend rang through his ears as soon as he opened the door. Seeing Ryan, a smile curved upon his lips as both the friends hugged and walked inside, closing the door behind them.

" How come you are here?" Viraaj asked and grabbed his previous seat whereas Ryan plopped himself on the sandbag. 

" Just to check on you. Last time we met, we had some unfinished conversations left," Ryan raised his eyebrow knowingly making Viraaj heave a deep sigh. Rubbing his head, he got up from his seat and went to stand near the windows from where one could see the whole city shinning as the sky turned darker. 

" I don't think anything more was left to discuss Ry. I think we had enough of this that day."

" Umm... Well to the point where my knowledge goes, having a conversation with a drunk man is not considered complete." This managed to bring a small smile on Viraaj's face. 

" Seeing you so lost just pushed me to think that maybe it was just for a day. But seeing you now again I am assured that all my thoughts are right." Ryan added and the smile that had appeared on his friend's face had vanished again. Slowly Viraaj turned to face his friend whose expression changed to a serious one seeing him with such a grave look. 

" I don't know what's happening Ryan. This girl. I am just fed up with being disappointed and anxious all the time. Every other day there is something or the other that happens which just pulls me towards her but she just repels even though from what I observe in her, it is clear that she likes it too. But it is not this fact that troubles me. It is the fact that she thinks me as a pervert womaniser man who is just trying to sleep with her." Viraaj says each and every word with such powerless tone that it made Ryan wonder what had happened between them. 

" Tell me each and everything," With that Viraaj narrated all the events that had happened post their meet. Ina's respect in the eyes of Ryan just seemed to increase after he heard all the events though he knew that his friend was hurt in this process but he also knew that any other girl could have taken undue advantage of the soft corner that had developed in Viraaj's heart. 

In all this narration, he also noticed the change in Viraaj's behaviour and whatever doubt he had just became more crystal clear. His disheartened friend had lost his heart to a naive girl who wasn't aware of the fact. 

" You are falling for her, Viraaj," Ryan remarked with a pensive expression. Silence prevailed in the air for as Viraaj let the words sink into his system. 

" No. This is not happening okay. I am not falling for her. I am not concerned about her. I think I just need a break from all this. I will leave this place for a while and everything will be alright," Viraaj said in a loud voice but mumbled the rest of the part as he spoke about him leaving the place. 

A knowing smile appeared on Ryan's face seeing Viraaj's impulsive side. It has been a while since he had seen him like that. " Why are you smiling?" 

" Have you been watching movies lately? How come you are thinking about leaving the place, Viraaj? It's not a crime to love someone, Viraaj. I never expected you to react cowardly," Ryan instigated and within a moment a glass bowl full of dried rose petals crashed on the floor. 

" I am not a coward," Viraaj growled making Ryan gulp. 

" I am not saying that, Viraaj. My whole point is when you love someone, you stay and try to win them over. You don't go all over the place and think about running away. You are in denial and I understand that it was because of that bitch but can you afford to lose this girl because of one wrong girl? When a person gets lost in his way, he finds a way out. He doesn't stop going just because of one wrong turn," 

Ryan tried to make Viraaj understand and kept a hand on his shoulder in order to calm him. Slowly, words seeped into his heart and mind and somehow Ryan's words made sense to him. " But, I told her I will not touch her or come close to her," 

Viraaj's tone sounded slightly like a whine making Ryan laugh at his friend," I can' believe this I am saying all this to you out of all the people. Now your time to get close is over my friend now you have to bring her close and make a emotionally connect with her"

A thoughtful expression flashed through Viraaj's face as nodded at Ryan's words inwardly. I am not wrong, Mr Thakur. It would have saved you a lot of trouble if you had listened to me in the first place, his heart slightly reprimanded him.

 I know Viraaj! You are not sure about your feelings for that girl but as time passes you will realise that these strong forces of emotions that you are facing are noting but of love. Soon, there will come a day when my words will actually make sense to you and you will actually acknowledge them; not just for namesake just like the way you did now. 

You don't realise the powers of these forces, my friend. When they can trouble a devil-like you then imagine what will happen when the forces will multiply once the feelings are reciprocated. You are entering a tunnel full of adventures, pain, disappointment, love, shyness and jealousy my friend and for you, there is no escape from this tunnel. A tunnel of love that will lead to your happiness which lies in that girl, Ryan thought to himself as he looked at the broken pieces of the bowl lying on the floor.

****

Hello Guys, 

So here is another update. I know I am updating after a long gap but I guess that was something I couldn't avoid. Anyways, so what do you think about this chapter?

What do you think is happening between Ina and Aryan?

Do you see a love triangle forming?

And is Viraaj's confusion justified?

Also, what do you think about the lessons given by Ryan?

Do you think he is right on his part?

Do comment your answers below. And don't forget to vote.